What is PRP? What does it do?
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) means platelet-rich serum. It is a biological treatment method and has been developing in recent years in all areas of medicine to stimulate and accelerate healing and to have a cell-regenerating effect.
The aim is to extract the tissue-healing and cell-regenerating blood elements, which the body cannot naturally deliver to diseased or injured tissue, from the patient's own blood, separate them in the external environment, and prepare them in a more concentrated form. The most important of these healing and cell-regenerating blood elements are cell particles called platelets.
With the PRP treatment method, these platelets are injected into injured or diseased tissues in large quantities, or, if they are gelatinized, placed in the desired surgical area during open surgery, to stimulate regeneration of the area and stimulate tissue repair more intensively and rapidly.
How is it prepared and administered?
PRP can be prepared in outpatient settings in approximately 30 minutes.
Using a PRP preparation kit, 10-60 ml of blood is drawn from the patient, depending on the size of the application area and the nature of the injury. The blood is centrifuged to remove unwanted cells, and 2-7 ml of platelet-rich serum is obtained. This serum contains 5-10 times the normal amount of platelets and therefore growth factors. Four types of serum can be obtained depending on the cell diversity, coagulation status, and the addition of platelet-stimulating agents. The type of PRP to be prepared depends on the nature of the disease or injury. The method is performed by injecting the prepared platelet- and therefore growth factor-rich PRP liquid or gel into the diseased or injured tissue, or by placing it in the desired tissue area in open surgery.
Is PRP a drug, and does it have side effects?
PRP is not a drug, but a biological treatment. It means it extracts the body's own natural growth factors and delivers them in greater quantities to damaged and damaged tissues. It does not contain any substances other than the body's own blood elements. Therefore, since no foreign substances are introduced into the body, there are no undesirable organ or tissue problems. It does not contain cortisone, and therefore, the known side effects of cortisone are not experienced. As with any injection method, some pain may occur following the injection. The most significant problem is the risk of infection, especially in joint applications. Therefore, the application should be performed in hospital conditions and in accordance with sterility regulations.
What are the orthopedic conditions for which it is used?
PRP was first used in elite athletes. Currently, it is most frequently used for musculoskeletal problems related to competitive or recreational sports. Scientific evidence-based and opinion-based observations and results suggest that PRP facilitates and accelerates healing and provides better quality tissue healing in sports-related injuries and illnesses.
Musculoskeletal injuries and diseases for which PRP is applied are generally as follows:
- Tendon and tendon-bone junction problems,
- Muscle injuries in athletes,
- Knee ligament injuries,
- Patellar tendonitis,
- Chondromalacia,
- Cartilage problems and arthritis,
What should be done after PRP application?
First of all, anti-inflammatory drugs should not be used, as they can inhibit the repair process initiated by growth hormones. Pain and some redness may occur in the application area due to the injection and volume effect. Simple painkillers, bandaging, and rest provide relief. It is important to rest the tissue where PRP is applied. Loading the tissue while it is still repairing disrupts the tissue integrity during the repair phase. The resting period should be 2-6 weeks, depending on the size and condition of the injured or diseased tissue.
Does PRP have any adverse effects?
Aside from potential injection-related issues, there are no known adverse effects. The most significant injection-related issue is the risk of infection during intra-articular injections. Therefore, strict adherence to sterility requirements is essential.